|
| Tips and Tools for Advising "Undecided" Students
As a faculty advisor you may often see students who are "declared" in your department but who are not feeling confident about their choice of major. Here are some things to consider when advising these students and some links to campus resources and articles that might be of use.
What-If APAS
- The "What-If" function on the APAS report allows you run a student's report as if they were in another major. This can be handy if you find yourself in an advising appointment with a student who has another major in mind and would like to take courses in that major. The report will generate all the remaining courses the student would need in the new major. To generate a What-If APAS, you enter the student's ID number as you usually would at the APAS website and then under the student's listed major there will be a section that reads: "Other audit report options". The second option is the "What-If" APAS. Click on this and then click through the selections of the appropriate campus, collegiate unit, and program. Click here to login to APAS.
What can I do with a major in....
Here are some websites that can provide students with useful information about majors and careers:
Questions to ask students
- What's important to you? What are your core values?
- What do you hope eventually to do with your life?
- Why did you choose UMD? What are your educational goals?
- What major or majors are you considering? Why are you considering those majors—simply to prepare for a career?
- Do you like what you are studying?
- What aspects of past jobs, internships, activities did you most enjoy?
- Have you considered joining a student organization?
Referrals
Undeclared Students Advising Services
- The mission of this program, through integrated UMD campus services, is to further develop student knowledge of self, skills in decision-making, increase access of resources and information pertaining to academic inquiry and majors, and to form connections within the UMD community and beyond. Students served through the program encompass those who are undecided, indecisive, undeclared, deciding and exploratory with emphasis of programming geared toward Freshman and Sophomore years.
- Please contact Michele Hatcher, Advising Services Coordinator for Undeclared Students, at mhatcher@d.umn.edu. Phone: 726-7583.
Career Services --located at 22 Solon Campus Center; phone: 218-726-7985 email: careers@d.umn.edu
Services Provided:
- Assessments and consultations with a career counselor that can help a student decide on a major
- Information and resources for learning more about major/career options
- Assistance in resume development, internship placement, and job fairs opportunities
- CNED 2535: a 2-credit major and career exploration course designed for students with fewer than 45 credits
For Further Reading....
Note: Content for this page was developed in consultation with Michele Hatcher, Advising Services Coordinator for Undeclared Students. For more information on working with sophomores around issues of major and career exploration see Michele's article in the March 2009 edition of the "Be Advised" Newsletter
|